Service difficulty report · Structure · Dhav DHC3

Difficulty date
July 21, 2011
Submitted
September 9, 2011
Operation
Air carrier
Make and model
Dhav DHC3
Aircraft time
4,787 hours
Engine
Pwa PT6A34
Propeller
Hartzl HCB3TN3
Part
Structure
Condition
Damaged
Location
Te Flap
Stage of operation
CL
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
E
Precautionary procedure
O

As reported to the FAA. Reports are unverified, and codes are left as the FAA publishes them.

What was found

PILOT REPORTED A RUMBLING NOISE DURING CLIMB WITH FLAPS DEPLOYED TO THE CLIMB POSITION. UPON LANDING, THE TRAILING FLAP WAS FOUND DAMAGED ON INBD SECTION. TRAILING FLAP WAS REPAIRED AND REINSTALLED AND TEST FLIGHT WAS COMMENCED. THE SOUND WAS STILL EVIDENT AND THE FORE FLAP WAS VIBRATING IN CLIMB AND DESCENT. THE FLAPS WERE REMOVED FOR FURTHER INSP. AT THIS TIME THE FORE FLAP WAS DISCOVERED TO HAVE A BROKEN STIFFENER RIB IN THE T/E AND WAS LAYING LOOSE INSIDE. THIS WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO CHECK WHEN THE FLAP WAS INSTALLED. SERVICEABLE PART WAS INSTALLED AND THE ACFT WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE AFTER A SUCCESSFULL TEST FLIGHT.